A source in the Italian government told Reuters that Italy is considering suspending the Schengen free-movement agreement with Spain in response to the mass migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to reports.
A source in the Italian government confirmed to Reuters overnight that Rome is considering suspending the Schengen free-movement agreement with Spain, a move that would be unprecedented in the European Union. The confirmation comes as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier described images from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as 'shocking,' and declared Italy prepared to take extraordinary measures to protect its borders.
Earlier Thursday evening at 21:44 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported the initial Reuters story that Italy was weighing the suspension. Within the same hour, Meloni confirmed the readiness and called the Ceuta situation 'shocking,' as The Zioneer reported in subsequent updates. The source quality evolved from a single agency report to an on-record statement by the prime minister, and now to a direct government source confirmation.
The crisis in Ceuta continued to escalate overnight. As The Zioneer reported at 23:54 Jerusalem, the Spanish Guardia Civil estimated that as many as 40,000 migrants had crossed the border from Morocco, an estimate the source said may already be outdated. Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the African continent, has long been a flashpoint for migration pressure, with the current wave pushing local infrastructure to the brink.
It remains unclear what specific conditions would trigger the suspension or how Spain would respond. No official notification has been delivered to Madrid, and the timeline for any decision has not been specified.
5 developments
- DevelopingSpain deploys 60 security personnel to Ceuta as migrant crisis continues
- DevelopingSpain rejects national emergency declaration for Ceuta migrant surge
- DevelopingItalian Foreign Minister Tajani Condemns Hamas Attack in Kfar Yair
- StrongTrump calls Spain a 'lost cause,' orders Treasury Secretary to cut trade ties
Source and signal
- Open-source intake